From “Putting the Last First” to “Working with People” in Rural Development Planning: A Bibliometric Analysis of 50 Years of Research

The contribution of academics and researchers to the discussion around sustainable rural development planning and its impact on rural communities has grown exponentially in recent years. Understanding trends in sustainable rural development research requires considering the different factors involved and affecting people from a holistic approach. This review examines, through bibliometric studies, the scientific knowledge generated on sustainable rural development planning in the last 50 years, analysing 6895 articles published in journals between 1970 and 2020. The results reveal the existence of three clusters, and important growth is observed to respond to the continuous needs in relation to sustainable rural development. This research shows the evolution of a new approach for the planning of sustainable rural development projects in postmodernity: Working with People (WWP). This WWP model, as a conceptual framework from social learning, has been validated as a novel proposal in numerous contexts. The bibliometric analysis shows an evolution in “From Putting the Last First” to “Working with People in Rural Development” research and the contributions of influential teachers, such as Chambers and Cernea. These bibliometric analyses demonstrate the correct approach of the WWP model and open new fields of research in the planning of sustainable rural development projects.